[Ontbirds] Algonquin Park Birding Report (Pine Grosbeak): 24 November 2011
There was no snow on the ground by week's end but ponds were covered by thin ice after Monday. Warmer temperatures should melt that soon. Canada Goose: migrants were present at several locations through the week, which is notably late for Algonquin and yet another indicator of climate warming. White-winged Scoter: 1 off Opeongo Access Point on November 19 was our second latest fall date ever. Ring-billed Gull: 3 adults persisted at Opeongo Access Point on November 19. They were the last of a large flock of mainly adults (up to 100 birds) that first appears there in September each year. The Ring-billed Gull does not breed in Algonquin and adults are usually not present on Lake Opeongo in summer. Boreal Species: Spruce Grouse: A male was just past the register box on Spruce Bog Boardwalk on November 18 and 19. A male was displaying on Opeongo Road just north of Cameron Lake road on November 19. Black-backed Woodpecker: no reports. Gray Jay: seen along along the old railway past the chain gate east of Arowhon Road, at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, and along Opeongo Road. Boreal Chickadee: 2 were along along the old railway past the chain gate east of Arowhon Road on November 17, and 2 were on Opeongo Road just past Cameron Lake road on November 19. Finches: PINE GROSBEAK: one flying over at the Visitor Centre on November 21 was the first of the fall. Purple Finch: 2 were near the gate on the old railway east of Arowhon Road on November 17. White-winged Crossbill: scattered small flocks along Highway 60 continued. Red Crossbill: 2 were at Ringneck Pond on Highway 60 east of Rock Lake Road on November 21. Common Redpoll: 8 were along the old railway past the chain gate east of Arowhon Road on November 17, 10 at Spruce Bog Boardwalk on November 19, and a flock of 30 or 40 were feeding on tamarack along Opeongo Road on November 19. Pine Siskin: a total of 4 seen on November 17, at the old railway east of Arowhon Road and the Old Airfield. American Goldfinch: 1 was at Spruce Bog Boardwalk and 1 was along Opeongo Road on November 19. Evening Grosbeak: up to 40 were at the Visitor Centre feeders this week, the most there in several years. They are most regular before 10 in the morning. We would appreciate receiving your bird observations for our Visitor Centre records. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, ON Directions: Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs, which start in Toronto on Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to the park. Kilometre markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from the West Gate (km 0) to near the East Gate (km 56). Get your park permit and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the gates. Locations are also described at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca The Visitor Centre at km 43 has recent bird sightings, feeders and information. The centre will be open on weekends only until December 27, from 9 am to 5 pm. The Visitor Centre restaurant will not be open this winter but visitors are welcome to bring a packed lunch and use the seating area. Hot and cold beverages, and light snacks are available to purchase, as well as the use of a microwave. Birders visiting during the week may be able to enter the Visitor Centre to view the feeders and exhibits. Check in with staff to find out what birds are being seen. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Black Vultures
Today, from 12 -12:30 PM two Black Vultures were soaring over the Niagara River between the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and the General Brock Monument. Bill Broderick Youngstown, NY ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] HSR: Holiday Beach Conservation Area (24 Nov 2011) 1 Raptors
Holiday Beach Conservation Area Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 24, 2011 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Turkey Vulture 0 1869 33689 Osprey 0 2204 Bald Eagle 0 14195 Northern Harrier 0124935 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0112 13071 Cooper's Hawk0188 1056 Northern Goshawk 0 11 15 Red-shouldered Hawk 0347503 Broad-winged Hawk0 0 43431 Red-tailed Hawk 1 2358 3303 Rough-legged Hawk0 16 28 Golden Eagle 0 70110 American Kestrel 0 15 4874 Merlin 0 8137 Peregrine Falcon 0 6 80 Unknown Accipiter0 15 65 Unknown Buteo0 23 52 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 6 Unknown Raptor 0 0 14 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 3 Black Vulture0 1 1 Total: 1 5179 101772 -- Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter:Sarah Rupert Observers: Visitors: None Weather: Winds from the southwest and fog proved for a challenging day of raptor watching. Raptor Observations: Only one raptor moved through the site today. Very windy, damp and cold. Non-raptor Observations: What we lacked for in raptors was more than made up for with waterfowl. Sightings included: Pied-billed Grebe - 5, Double-crested Cormorant - 1, Great Blue Heron - 3, Tundra Swan - 35, Mute Swan - 26, Canada Goose - 10, Green-winged Teal - 1, American Black Duck - 14, Mallard - 100, Northern Pintail - 10, Northern Shoveler - 10, Gadwall - 50, American Wigeon - 2, Greater Scaup - 2, Hooded Merganser - 1, Common Merganser - 4, Red-breasted Merganser - 30, Ruddy Duck - 25, American Coot - 300, Bonaparte's Gull - 3, Ring-billed Gull - 35, Herring Gull - 2, Belted Kingfisher - 2, Downy Woodpecker - 1, Hairy Woodpecker - 1, Red-breasted Nuthatch - 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet -1, European Starling - 25, Northern Cardinal - 4, American Tree Sparrow - 3, Swamp Sparrow - 2, Dark-eyed Junco - 2, Red-winged Blackbird - 52, Rusty Blackbird - 17, Common Grackle - 2, Purple Finch - 2, American Goldfinch - 30, House Sparrow - 2 Predictions: Sun and continued SW winds - there should be some birds moving tomorrow, but not big numbers. Report submitted by Sarah Rupert (tana...@sympatico.ca) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending November 24, 2011.
Presqu'ile Provincial Park has had its share of rare and uncommon birds this week, some of which have been very cooperative in posing for visiting birders. A flock of 17 SNOW GEESE flew over the Park entrance on November 20, an unusually high number for this species at Presqu'ile. The 50 TUNDRA SWANS in Presqu'ile Bay on November 22 were also the largest number ever recorded at Presqu'ile. A few WOOD DUCKS were still in the marsh on four of the last seven days. Part of the marsh where a good variety of dabbling ducks has been easily visible had frozen over one morning, but most of the ducks remained in patches of open water until the ice disappeared. Among them, at the risk of sounding like a broken record (if anyone remembers what a record was), a male EURASIAN WIGEON has been there throughout this month and will likely remain until at least the next sub-zero temperatures. It is tempting to speculate that the female wigeon with which it has been consorting almost continuously was also of that species. The first CANVASBACK of the fall, a female, was with a flock of REDHEADS and SCAUP in Presqu'ile Bay on November 23. Not entirely unexpected was a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE that has been near the lighthouse for the past two days, arriving one day later than last year. HOODED MERGANSERS have been in the marsh on four of the past five days. Singles of RED-THROATED LOON and COMMON LOON and a few HORNED GREBES have been in Presqu'ile Bay this week. Four late DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS have been regular at the calf pasture. A GREAT BLUE HERON was in the marsh on November 21. Among the five species of hawks seen in the past few days were an adult BALD EAGLE, a COOPER'S HAWK, and a MERLIN. For the third time this fall, three RUFFED GROUSE were seen together. Over 100 AMERICAN COOTS, 174 by one count, have been present all week at the camp office viewing stand. Three BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were still at Owen Point today. Other shorebirds this week were SANDERLINGS, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, PURPLE SANDPIPERS (not seen since Sunday), and DUNLINS. Given that a GLAUCOUS GULL was on the north side of Presqu'ile Bay last Friday, one can expect both that species and ICELAND GULL to appear in the Park soon. A GREAT HORNED OWL was in Newcastle woods on Monday. That was also the first day on which a SNOWY OWL was found. There have been as many as three on Gull Island and Sebastopol Island every day since then. At one point all three could be seen from Owen Point. BARRED OWLS are always present, as they have been at least twice this week. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are appearing at feeders along Bayshore Road. There have been at least three NORTHERN SHRIKE sightings this week. Two observers separately heard a COMMON RAVEN on Tuesday. The CAROLINA WREN that has taken up residence at 83 Bayshore Road continues to perform from time to time. AMERICAN PIPITS on Gull Island were rather late. The WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at 83 Bayshore Road appear to be planning to winter there. SNOW BUNTINGS were on Gull Island on Sunday and Tuesday. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES are patronizing several feeders along Bayshore Road. For a few days two PURPLE FINCHES were at 83 Bayshore Road, and PINE SISKINS are appearing in reasonably good numbers here and there. To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Visitors to Gull Island not using a boat should be prepared to wade through shin-deep water in which there is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and slippery. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island, High Bluff Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not available for bird-watching on those days. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird report for species not listed there. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: fhellei...@trentu.ca. -- -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0 VOICE: (613) 475 5309 If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Cranberry Hawk Watch - November 23rd
Yesterday I did the hawk watch at Cranberry and shared part of the chilly day with Jerry Ball, Jim Skene and John Floegel. Results: Sharp-shinned Hawk - 12 Copper's Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 47 Other birds (36 spp. total): Northern Harrier (non-migrant) - 1 Northern Goshawk (non-migrant) - 1 female put on a spectacular display chasing a Mourning Dove for over 5 minutes from one side of the marsh (north to south) and back again and then across the marsh (west to east)where both disappeared behind the islands. The dove dodged several close calls until they reached the islands where neither bird emerged while we watched for the next 2 hours - was one of them having "dove" lunch? What a spectacle! One Red-throated Loon flew in high from the north and headed out over the lake. Directions Cranberry: Exit Highway 401 at Brock St. in Whitby (not Brock Rdin Pickering), go south on Brock to Victoria St. Go west on Victoria to Halls Road. Go south on Halls Road to the second short walkway going east to the Cranberry Marsh Lookout. For hawkwatching guide with migration times for each species visit www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/hawkwatching.php Geoff Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Niagara River - Nov 24th - Razorbill, Black Vulture, Franklin's Gull and more
I had the good fortune to spend a good part of today with Willie D'Anna, Betsy Potter and Peter Hogenbirk as we travelled upriver from Niagara-on-the Lake in search of birds. The day started perfectly with excellent and prolonged looks at the Razorbill. It spent long periods of time just floating on the surface of the water near the fort on the American side at about 8 a.m. Joining it were several Horned Grebes, one Red-necked Grebe, many White-winged Scoters, one Common Loon and at least four Red-throated Loons. Overhead two Pine Siskins and about 15 Common Redpolls flew over from the American side. Our next stop was at the Queenston boat launch, where we found at least one adult Little Gull and a little upriver one Kumlien's Gull. From here we also saw at least ten Turkey Vultures, lifting up from the American side and drifting over to our side and back again. We also saw two Tufted Titmice and a Carolina Wren sang nearby. Just downriver from the Queenston-Lewiston bridge, four Black Vultures were perched on the Canadian side for at least an hour. Eventually they all lifted off and drifted around the area on both sides of the river in the company of several Turkey Vultures. At Adam Beck, we added two Peregrine Falcons, four Kumlien's Gulls and a Franklin's Gull. Nearby we found a Mockingbird, an Eastern Bluebird and a Hermit Thrush. The Whirlpool was filled with Bonies, but nothing else presented itself. Likewise, Betsy scoured the area below the Falls in search of the Kittiwake, and Peter and I checked Dufferin Island and the barge to no avail. At the Flood Gates above the Falls, Willie spotted two adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and we added 11 Great Black-backed Gulls (noticeably rare now that the lasting effects of botulism are being felt), several duck species for the day and 72 Tundra Swans. All in all a great birding outing. Happy Thanksgiving to our American birding friends! Geoff Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] NO Black Vulture-Artpark, Lewiston NY
At daybreak I was in Artpark waiting to see the Turkey Vultures coming off the roost on the Canadian side of the Niagara River between the General Brock Statue and the Queenston Sand Docks. I left after 9AM without seeing a single vulture. The sun eventually bathed the entire Canadian bank and I was hoping something would stir. There were plenty of Bonaparte Gulls and I never saw the Kittiwake. Heard a few crows and a raptor flew from the US side to the Canadian side. Plenty of fishermen on shore and in boats and more coming all the time. The Queenston boat launch was going continuously and boats were coming from Lewiston as well. I saw one fish caught. Yesterday I stayed until 9am and then saw 2 Turkey Vultures near the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge coming downriver. Then a single coming from further upriver. I saw them from the Robert Moses Parkway southbound where there is a pulloff just past the bridge but never saw another vulture. On a previous day with Bill Watson we saw Turkey Vultures over the Lewiston boat launch area. To reach the Artpark view opposite the General Brock statue take the I-190 to the Lewiston exit then take Main St. towards Lewiston. One of the first red lites is Portage Avenue to the left and take it right into the backdoor of Artpark. After a long distance with no left turns do not take either of the left turns into the 1st parking lot then continue into the second parking lot and take the first left turn up the muddy road to the end at at gorge side parking lot near a huge white artwork to the heavens. You should be right across from the General Brock Statue. Go to anyplace along the fence. I went to the large cement International Boundary Marker with a 2 foot diameter widening to 2.5 feet at the base and about 3.5 feet high with a brass name plate about 2 inches in diameter. Makes me wonder if the vultures are roosting someplace upriver. Jerry LazarczykGrand Island NY. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
